Holtby named The MeiGray Group/ECHL Alumnus of the Month

The leading distributor of game- worn hockey jerseys and “Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL,” MeiGray has sold more than 7,500 jerseys since it became “The Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL” in 2002-03.

The 28-year-old went 8-2-0 in 10 appearances during the month with a 2.46 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922. Holtby allowed two goals or less in seven of his 10 appearances during November and made at least 27 saves seven times. In 19 games with Washington this season, Holtby is 13-6-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922.

Selected by the Capitals in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Holtby has appeared in 326 career NHL games with a record of 204-79-31, 32 shutouts, a 2.33 goals-against average and a save percentage of .922. During the 2015-16 season, Holtby became the third former ECHL goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender after winning an NHL-best 48 games as part of his 48-9-7 record. He ranked sixth in the league with a 2.20 goals-against average and was eighth with a .922 save percentage.

A native of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Holtby appeared in 12 games with South Carolina during the 2009-10 season, earning a spot in the ECHL All-Star Game, and posting a record of 7-2-3 with a 2.95 goals-against average and a save percentage of .911.

There have been 633 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 10 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2017-18 season. The ECHL has had 441 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 377 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last 13 seasons for an average of 29 per year.